Jobs4u Targets East Belfast Unemployed

Locally based organisations that are said to have developed an intimate knowledge of community issues and employment opportunities in their individual areas are being hailed a success at the NI Executive.

Dr Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning (DEL), pictured here, today announced an investment of a further £300,000 to deliver a back to work programme - this time in east Belfast - to help those most disadvantaged enter employment.

This investment is in addition to the £160,000 funding made available in April by DEL for delivery of the Local Employment Intermediary Service (LEMIS) also in the same area.

Based on 25% of the 5,934 people who have used the service so far across NI finding employment, Dr Farry has now announced the investment in the innovative programme

It aims to engage with unemployed and economically inactive people to develop and improve the training and employability skills needed to enter the labour market and sustain employment.

The programme is financed by the European Social Fund for three years and will be delivered by the Stepping Stone Project - East Belfast Mission.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister said: "I welcome this investment in east Belfast during these difficult economic times.

"It is critical that we do all we possibly can to help and empower people in disadvantaged areas such as Ballymacarret or Short Strand, by providing the necessary resources to enable them to improve their employability skills and support them in finding jobs."

LEMIS already provides tailored assistance to help unemployed people overcome barriers to employment, helping them to find and hold onto a job.

Many of those helped may have been out of work for some considerable time and in need of personal help and support.

Emphasising that the additional investment would complement LEMIS, Dr Farry continued: "My Department is committed to helping people prepare for, and enter into, the labour market.

"Through the jobs4u programme and LEMIS we are specifically targeting those individuals in areas of disadvantage and most need in east Belfast.

"We are working in partnership with local community organisations to make a real difference to individuals' lives in these areas by supporting them in finding employment.

"We will continue to work with community-based organisations on a range of initiatives which are designed to have a positive effect on local communities," he said.

In addition, LEMIS also helps individuals with specific employability barriers - homelessness, ex-prisoners/ex-offenders and those recovering from drug or alcohol addiction.

The service is also available to young people not engaged in education, training or employment to address their employability needs.

Since starting in April 2007 in the Belfast, Londonderry and Strabane areas, a total of 5,934 participants have come forward seeking the help of the LEMIS providers.

Around a quarter have found employment after taking part.

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East Belfast Alliance MP Naomi Long and Alliance Employment and Learning Spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA have welcomed the funding for Jobs4u.

Naomi Long MP said: "This is a very positive development and I strongly welcome the announcement of this funding.

"Skills and training are vitally important as regards helping people gain employment and this scheme presents a real opportunity for people to become work ready."

East Belfast Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle, said: "The Local Employment Intermediary Service (LEMIS) has helped people into employment and I am extremely pleased that this new project will further complement the work of LEMIS.

"I also welcome the close collaboration of this scheme with community organisations in East Belfast as this will bring the benefit of the project direct to the local community."

(BMcC/GK)